scholarly journals Covering the Dead in Later Prehistoric Britain: Elusive Objects and Powerful Technologies of Funerary Performance

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 ◽  
pp. 223-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anwen Cooper ◽  
Duncan Garrow ◽  
Catriona Gibson ◽  
Melanie Giles
Keyword(s):  
Funerary Practices ◽  
The Dead ◽  
Prehistoric Burials ◽  
Organic Remains

This paper examines the containment and covering of people and objects in burials throughout later prehistory in Britain. Recent analyses of grave assemblages with exceptionally well-preserved organic remains have revealed some of the particular roles played by covers in funerary contexts. Beyond these spectacular examples, however, the objects involved in covering and containing have largely been overlooked. Many of the ‘motley crew’ of pots and stones used to wrap, cover, and contain bodies (and objects) were discarded or destroyed by antiquarian investigators in their quest for more immediately dazzling items. Organic containers and covers – bags, coffins, shrouds, blankets – are rarely preserved. Our study brings together the diverse and often elusive objects that played a part in covering and containing prehistoric burials, including items that directly enclosed bodies and objects, and those that potentially pinned together (now mostly absent) organic wraps. Overall, we contend, wrapping, covering, and containing were significantly more prevalent in prehistoric funerary practices than has previously been recognised.

scholarly journals Epidemics and Wars: Comparative Archaeology and Anthropology of Ancient Greek Mass Burials

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 295-318
Author(s):  
Reine-Marie Bérard ◽  
Dominique Castex
Keyword(s):  
Ancient World ◽  
Ancient Greek ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
Funerary Practices ◽  
Dead Bodies ◽  
The Dead ◽  
Funerary Treatment ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Taphonomic Processes ◽  
The Way

The high number of dead bodies to deal with in time of mortality crises (events marked by an unusually high number of dead in a limited amount of time) often leads to modifications in the traditional funerary practices of a society. This contribution questions the way Ancient Greeks, from the 8th till the 3rd century BC, handled such mortality crises, focusing on mass burials. In a first methodological part, we discuss the means to identify funerary sites related to mortality crises, using the methods of archaeothanatology. By confronting archaeological features (taphonomic processes, position of the remains, grave type, offerings, etc.) and bioanthropological data (number of dead, sex, age, pathologies, etc.), we will first define the main characteristics of mass burials. We will then question how to discriminate between mass burials linked to war, epidemics, massacres and famine, underlining the major importance of historical sources in this process. The second part is dedicated to the study of various cases from Athens, Paros, Chaeronea, Tanagra and Greek Sicily and their interpretation. We will argue that epidemic mass burials are the most difficult to identify, since they may present innumerable variations in terms of osteoprofiles and archaeological features. Finally, we will question our abilities, as archaeoanthropologists, to evaluate the impact of epidemics on the funerary treatment of the dead in the Ancient world.

scholarly journals Acerca da biografia dum sepulcro colectivo do Neolítico final/ Calcolítico: o Hipogeu 2 do Monte do Carrascal 2 (Ferreira do Alentejo, Beja, Portugal)

2018 ◽  
pp. 35-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria João Neves ◽  
Ana Maria Silva
Keyword(s):  
Data Base ◽  
Research Topic ◽  
Integrated Analysis ◽  
Late Neolithic ◽  
Funerary Practices ◽  
The World ◽  
Anthropological Research ◽  
Depositional Evolution ◽  
The Dead ◽  
The Relationship

Partindo-se dos dados recolhidos no Hipogeu 2 do Monte do Carrascal 2 (Ferreira do Alentejo, Beja), um dos sepulcros colectivos sito nas imediações do grande sítio do Porto Torrão, procurou-se obter uma leitura biográfica do mesmo, abordando-se especificamente as questões relativas à construção, uso, reconfiguração, reutilização e abandono da estrutura tumular.Através da análise integrada das informações espaciais, estratigráficas e arqueotanatológicas, reunidas numa única base de dados georreferenciada (SIG), foi possível caracterizar os inumados, o modo como foram sendo depositados, as práticas funerárias realizadas ao longo do tempo, os processos de preenchimento do sepulcro e as alterações pós-deposicionais e processos de remodelação que sofreu.Após esta caracterização do sepulcro e dos seus mortos foram entrevistas as novas questões que resultam duma abordagem integrada destes dados com aqueles que decorrem das novas descobertas realizadas recentemente no interior alentejano. Este conjunto de informações afigura-se essencial à compreensão da relação entre o mundo dos vivos e dos mortos nos 4º e 3º milénios a.C., tema fundamental na investigação arqueológica e antropológica europeias. Regarding the biography of a collective Late Neolithic/Calcolithic burial place: the Hypogeum 2 of “Monte do Carrascal 2” (Ferreira do Alentejo, Beja, Portugal)The data obtained in the Hypogeum 2 of Monte do Carrascal 2 (Ferreira do Alentejo, Beja), one of the collective tombs located near the large site of Porto Torrão allow us to trace a biographical overview of this collective tomb. The processes regarding its construction, reconfiguration, reuse, and abandonment were analysed throughout an integrated analysis of spatial, stratigraphic and archaeothanatological information gathered in a single georeferenced data base (GIS).The funerary practices, the post-depositional evolution and the architectural remodelling of the site were characterized. These new data were then compared with those that result from the new discoveries recently done in inner Alentejo. This set of information seems essential to perform a better understanding of the relationship between the world of the living and the dead in the 4th and 3rd millennium BC, a fundamental archaeological and anthropological research topic in Europe. Keywords: Hypogea; Late Neolithic/Chalcolithic; Monte do Carrascal 2; Porto Torrão; Archeothanatology; GIS.

Oceania

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory Shushan
Keyword(s):  
Spirit Possession ◽  
Funerary Practices ◽  
Religious Rituals ◽  
Revitalization Movements ◽  
The Dead ◽  
Near Death Experiences ◽  
Afterlife Beliefs

Many near-death experiences (NDEs) were found in Polynesia and Melanesia, alongside claims that afterlife beliefs derived from them, and numerous relevant myths. Religious rituals and beliefs often incorporated knowledge of NDEs, and revitalization movements often had NDE origins and themes. Shamanic practices included otherworld journeys, soul-retrieval, mediumship, and invited spirit possession. Micronesia and Australia, in contrast, yielded very few NDEs, or statements that beliefs originated in them. In Micronesia, the dead were brought to the living via possession and mediumship, while Australians practiced otherworld journey shamanism. Such practices took preference over interest in NDEs, while fulfilling similar socioreligious functions. The differences between the regions also reflected different funerary practices: in Polynesia and Melanesia they often facilitated the possibility of the soul’s return, while in Micronesia and Australia they were frequently designed to prevent such a return.

scholarly journals «BLUSHER» FOR THE DEAD (the Results of Research of Mineral Artefacts from Zolota Balka Graves)

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 159-167
Author(s):  
V. A. Nesterovskyi ◽  
O. S. Dzneladze ◽  
S. A. Gorbanenko ◽  
O. V. Andrieiev
Keyword(s):  
Detrimental Effect ◽  
Toxic Substance ◽  
Burial Ground ◽  
Arsenic Sulfide ◽  
Funeral Rite ◽  
The Family ◽  
Orange Colour ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Dead ◽  
Organic Remains

The results of the studies of mineral artefacts from the graves of the Late Scythian burial ground of Zolota Balka were introduced into scientific circulation. At this site, 87 graves were excavated; in 10 of them mineral artefacts were identified. The latter one is the object of this study, while their significance and role in the funeral rite is the subject. Analytical studies revealed that the vast majority of the mineral substances of red-orange colour is realgar (arsenic sulfide). It is a toxic substance with a detrimental effect on the organisms. Its deposits in Ukraine are unknown. There is an opinion in the archaeological literature that realgar was placed in burials because of the colour of this mineral. However, a similar colour is inherent in ochre, which is much easier to find in the surroundings. Taking into account the properties of realgar and given the need to deliver it from afar, we consider that it was used as a preservative for better storage of organic remains in the graves and for less reproduction of pathogenic flora within the family crypts, where later the dead would be buried again.

scholarly journals Ochre, Ground Stone, and Wrapping the Dead in the Late Epipalaeolithic (Natufian) Levant: Revealing the Funerary Practices at Shubayqa 1, Jordan

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (7) ◽  
pp. 440-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Richter ◽  
Emmy Bocaege ◽  
Peter Ilsøe ◽  
Anthony Ruter ◽  
Alexis Pantos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Funerary Practices ◽  
Ground Stone ◽  
The Dead

Dignity and rights of the dead and their families: A compromise in the time of coronavirus disease 2019

2020 ◽  
pp. 002580242094593 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rijen Shrestha ◽  
Kewal Krishan ◽  
Tanuj Kanchan
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Economic Impact ◽  
Legal Aspects ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Funerary Practices ◽  
The Social ◽  
Biological Aspects ◽  
The Dead

The biological aspects and economic impact of coronavirus disease 2019 have been extensively discussed in the literature. However the social, cultural and legal aspects of the pandemic, especially regarding the dignity and rights of the deceased and their families – have so far received little attention. This communication discusses restrictions and violations of the rights of the deceased and their families and their privileges to carry out funerary practices and rituals during the pandemic caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

scholarly journals Why Keep the Old Dead Around?

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. 348-372
Author(s):  
Alexandra Ion
Keyword(s):  
Human Remains ◽  
Fixed Time ◽  
Collective Identities ◽  
Place Making ◽  
Funerary Practices ◽  
Balkan Area ◽  
The Creation ◽  
The Dead

The aim of this article is to focus on the ways in which communities imagined their relationship with the dead throughout the Balkan area during the Neolithic and Eneolithic (6200–3800 cal BC). My claim is that we should go beyond seeing the human remains discovered in settlements as unusual/atypical/non-funerary discoveries. Instead, they can be read as traces of complex funerary practices, which contributed to the creation and manipulation of collective identities. The dead became part of a place-making strategy, they fixed time and become central to certain kinds of assemblages, which in turn were meant to create more powerful ancestors who could intervene in the present.

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